What a $89 Gate Service Call Actually Includes

When your gate stops working, the last thing you want is to call a company, get someone out, and then find out the diagnostic alone costs $200 before any work even starts. We built our service call pricing around a simple principle: be the company we would want to call if our own gate was broken.

The $89 service call is one flat fee. Here is every single thing it covers.

What the $89 Service Call Covers

1. A Real Technician Shows Up — Not a Sales Rep

When you book a service call with Texas Gates, the owner or a senior technician arrives at your property. We are not sending a salesperson to upsell you on a new gate. We are sending someone who can actually diagnose and fix the problem. The person who shows up has serviced hundreds of gate systems across Houston and knows what a failing LiftMaster capacitor sounds like versus a stripped Viking drive gear.

2. Full System Inspection

We do not just look at the part that is obviously broken. A gate system is an integrated set of components — the gate structure itself, the operator, the power supply, the sensors, the control board, the access control hardware, and the wiring. A problem that shows up as a random reversal might actually be a sensor alignment issue. A gate that will not open might have a failing capacitor, not a dead motor. We inspect the whole system because a partial diagnosis leads to repeat service calls.

The inspection covers:

• Gate structure and hardware — hinges, posts, welds, pivot points, rollers, and track (for slide gates)
• Operator mechanical components — drive gears, chains, rack, motor brushes, and coupling
• Electrical components — control board, capacitor, transformer, battery backup, and wiring connections
• Safety devices — photocell sensors, loop detectors, entrapment protection, and edge sensors
• Access control — keypads, remotes, intercoms, CellGate or myQ cloud system functionality
• Limit switches — open and close limits, obstruction sensitivity settings

3. Diagnosis of the Specific Fault

When we are done inspecting, we tell you exactly what is wrong. Not “your gate needs work.” Not “we recommend replacing the whole operator.” We tell you the specific component that has failed or is failing, why it failed, and what it takes to fix it. If there are multiple issues, we rank them by priority — what needs to be fixed now, what can wait, and what to keep an eye on.

4. A Full Written Quote Before Any Work Starts

After the diagnosis, you get a written quote for the repair. Line items, parts, labor — all of it. Nothing starts until you approve it. If the quote is more than you expected or more than the situation calls for, you are not obligated to proceed. You pay the $89 service call fee and we part ways — no hard feelings, no pressure.

5. The $89 Applies Toward Your Repair

If you approve the repair on the spot, the $89 service call fee is credited toward your total. You are not paying the diagnostic fee on top of the repair — it comes out of the repair cost. Most of our service calls result in same-day repairs because we stock the most common parts for LiftMaster, Viking, Apollo, CellGate, and DoorKing systems on the truck.

What Is NOT Included in the $89

We want to be completely transparent about what the service call fee does not cover, because clarity matters.

• Parts — Any replacement parts needed for the repair are quoted and priced separately. Control boards, drive gears, capacitors, sensors, and other components are not included in the $89.
• Labor for the repair — The service call covers the diagnostic and inspection. Repair labor is quoted separately and applied against your total when you approve the work.
• Emergency after-hours premium — We do not charge an after-hours premium on most calls, but for emergency night calls or Sunday service in certain circumstances, there may be an additional fee. We will always tell you upfront before dispatching.

How Long Does a Service Call Take?

The diagnostic and inspection typically takes 30-60 minutes depending on the complexity of the system. If parts are needed and available on the truck, most repairs can be completed in the same visit — total time on-site is usually 1-2 hours for a repair call. If a part needs to be ordered, we schedule a follow-up visit for installation.

What Brands Do You Service?

We service all major brands. Our service call covers inspection and diagnosis on:

• LiftMaster — Full residential and commercial lineup including SL585, SL3000, CSW200, and myQ-enabled systems
• Viking Access — E-50, G-50, PT-1000, and full commercial lineup
• Apollo Gate — 1500 series, 3000 series, and Model 1550
• CellGate — Cloud access systems, W400, and telephone entry
• DoorKing — 1802, 1812, 1830, and telephone entry systems
• Elite Gates — Full residential lineup
• Most other residential and commercial operators

Can You Fix It the Same Day?

Most of the time, yes. We keep the most common replacement parts for the brands we service on the truck. Drive gears, capacitors, control boards for the most common models, sensors, limit switch assemblies, remote receivers, and battery backup units are typically available for same-day repair.

When we cannot repair same-day — usually because a specific part needs to be ordered — we prioritize getting it sourced and back out to you within 24-48 hours. If your gate is stuck in an unsafe position (fully open or blocking access), we work to get a temporary fix in place while parts are ordered.

How Do I Book a Service Call?

Call us at (346) 872-8671 or fill out the form on our website. We call back within 30 minutes. Tell us what the gate is doing — or not doing — and we will let you know what to expect and when we can be there. Most service calls are scheduled same-day or next-day across Houston, The Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Conroe, and surrounding areas.